A Living Testimony

The Changed (v.2 but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table)

• Martha – Still serving, but now with no complaints for Jesus

• Mary – Still at His feet, but now preparing for Jesus’ burial

• Lazarus – Still with his sisters, but now alive and sitting at dinner with Jesus. He was alive and well! When the Lord Jesus changed the residence of Lazarus from that tomb back to his sister’s house, just a few days earlier, He issued a very personal call. That change was for no one else that day, but it was for Lazarus alone. (Note: The Gospel call is not a general call to all men! It is a call to individuals from a Holy God, John 6:44 says that “No man can come to me unless the Father draws him.” I know that "whosoever will" may be saved, Romans 10:13. I know that God’s "will is to have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth", 1 Timothy 2:4. However, I also know that the call of the Lord is an intensely personal call! When He comes calling for you, He will come to you as an individual. He won't ask your siblings or parents. He won't get permission from your spouse or children. When He comes for you, He comes to change you personally! He knows Your Name – Some say, if Jesus did not say “Lazarus” when He said “Come Forth,” then All Dead Men would have risen from their graves, but I submit that the call of God is so personal that only he who the call is directed will hear it (Lazarus was a common name of that day). So today we meet a changed man! He was once dead but now he is alive for all to see. And we learn from this encounter with Jesus that not only does Jesus have life giving, resurrection power, He is in fact, The Resurrection and The Life!

The Curious (v.9 Not only for Jesus’ sake, but that they might see Lazarus also)

• They came not for Jesus only! But they came to see Lazarus, whom he had raised! We were once dead in our sins, don’t be surprised when folks want to see who you have become.

• You see, they heard about a healer, but you they know you were sick!

• You see, they heard about a teacher, but you they know were not a student!

• You see, they heard about a preacher, but know you don’t go to synagogue!

• LAZARUS:

o Preached No Sermons

o Performed No Miracles

o Taught No Lessons

o Has No Recorded Words in the Text

o BUT, He was a Living Testimony!

• Lazarus would one day die again, and he would have another funeral, but because of him, everyone that encountered him would receive a Living Testimony!

ILLS: There once lived a man named James Williams whose home was across the street and a few houses down from me. Someone had abandoned a puppy and we had taken it in and each morning I walked that dog past the Williams home, James would see me, and he knew I was a preacher so often he would shout a question out of his garage as I walked by. 1st time - Hey Preacher, what does it mean when people say you must be born again? So, I told him of Nicodemus and cited John 3. 2nd time - Hey Preacher, why do you call that Jesus your God? So I asked him if he had a Bible and brought out the “Big Funeral Bible” and I turned to John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word…” 3rd time - Hey Preacher, Tell me something about Your Jesus? So, I’d take him to Romans 10:9 “If thou shall confess with thy mouth…” and John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…” One Day after that his voice came from that garage – Hey Preacher, Can I tell you something about My Jesus?! TELL ME SOMETHING BRO. JAMES!! He said I want to get baptized! Do you have to be a member of your church to get baptized? No, James… you just have to be a believer. So we filled up the pool and he invited all his friends and family to the service. I remember a plastic costume golden crown from the Children’s Christmas Play was in the changing room and when he saw it he said, the Bible says that I shall wear a crown one day, can I wear it this one while I get Baptized? It was a strange request, but I said sure, if that will make you happy. So we baptized him that Sunday and less than one month later he learned that he had terminal cancer. A few months after that he went on to Glory never having established membership in any local church and we held is funeral right here. And when it was time for remarks to be given, one after another they lined up to tell the story of how James would not stop talking about His Jesus. We learned that in less than 6 months he had told more people about His Jesus than most of us have done in a lifetime! He was A Living Testimony! He may have worn a costume crown down here but I know he received a Crown of Rightness from His Jesus!